Mo Dung Chu murdered both Emperor Shun Shih's favorite concubine AND K'ang Hsi's mom?

[Ken Cheng]

Am I understanding correctly that Mo Dung Chu, the fake Empress Dowager in DOMD, murdered *both* the previous emperor's (Shun Shi) favorite concubine AND K'ang Hsi's mom? I'm a bit confused if she murdered one or both of them.

For that matter, would K'ang Hsi have been the direct heir to the throne if his half-brother, the murdered son of his father's favorite concubine, had lived? Or was K'ang Hsi always the crown prince regardless of whether or not his half-brother lived (was the half-brother older or younger than K'ang Hsi)?

[Doc Kwok]

Am I understanding correctly that Mo Dung Chu, the fake Empress Dowager in DOMD, murdered *both* the previous emperor's (Shun Shi) favorite concubine AND K'ang Hsi's mom? I'm a bit confused if she murdered one or both of them.

Correct, she murdered both Consorts Donggo and Xiaokang (Kangxi's mother), plus Consort Donggo's son, Prince Rong.

For that matter, would K'ang Hsi have been the direct heir to the throne if his half-brother, the murdered son of his father's favorite concubine, had lived? Or was K'ang Hsi always the crown prince regardless of whether or not his half-brother lived (was the half-brother older or younger than K'ang Hsi)?

Prince Rong was the fourth prince, Xuanye (Kangxi) was the third.

Kangxi was conflicted when Mao Dongzhu was captured and brought before him by WXB. On the one hand, she had inflicted horrific damage to his family, which led to his father leaving and orphaning him. On the other hand, she was also the one person he could ever confide in apart from WXB, plus he believed that if Prince Rong had lived, he would never have had a chance at the throne given how much his father loved Consort Dongge.

[pannonian]

Correct, she murdered both Consorts Donggo and Xiaokang (Kangxi's mother), plus Consort Donggo's son, Prince Rong.



Prince Rong was the fourth prince, Xuanye (Kangxi) was the third.

Kangxi was conflicted when Mao Dongzhu was captured and brought before him by WXB. On the one hand, she had inflicted horrific damage to his family, which led to his father leaving and orphaning him. On the other hand, she was also the one person he could ever confide in apart from WXB, plus he believed that if Prince Rong had lived, he would never have had a chance at the throne given how much his father loved Consort Dongge.

Why didn't she kill Kangxi as well?

[Ken Cheng]

Correct, she murdered both Consorts Donggo and Xiaokang (Kangxi's mother), plus Consort Donggo's son, Prince Rong.

Sheesh. What a vicious, cruel-hearted b*tch.

[Doc Kwok]

Why didn't she kill Kangxi as well?

The novel did not say explicitly, but my guess would be that she wanted to be the power behind the curtain, so to speak, by ingratiating herself with him? It was working too - Kangxi deeply respected her and confided with her in everything. KX was probably too strong-willed to be coerced or tricked by her into doing anything outrageous, but as long as she kept her requests reasonable, she could achieve or obtain anything the emperor could. Of course, WXB ruined everything for her by exposing her past deeds to KX...